Engine exhaust changes to make cars louder for 2016 season

Separate tailpipe for the wastegate to be included on car designs

By James Galloway

Teams will have to include a second tailpipe in their 2016 car designs

F1 will attempt to increase the noise of F1's hybrid turbo engines next season by mandating changes to the design of car exhausts.

The new generation power units have been criticised for their quieter sound relative to the previous V8 engines since being introduced at the start of 2014. Mercedes last year trialled a 'trumpet' extension on the end of their car's exhaust to try to amplify the sound, but the idea was not taken forward.

However as part of moves to make cars more exciting heading towards 2017, the FIA's World Motor Sport Council has rubber-stamped a change for next season.

'For 2016, all cars must have a separate exhaust wastegate tailpipe through which all and only wastegate exhaust gases must pass," a statement read.

'This measure has been undertaken to increase the noise of the cars and will not have any significant effect on power or emissions.'

'Sporting Regulations regarding track limits have been clarified and specify that drivers "must make every reasonable effort to use the track at all times and may not deliberately leave the track without a justifiable reason",' the FIA said.

'Penalties will still be allocated based on whether a driver is judged to have gained an advantage'.

Further minor changes approved by the FIA include:

- Cars must now comply with all cockpit and safety equipment requirements during testing; such as the position of the driver's head, all headrest padding, cockpit padding and ease of driver egress.

- The WMSC approved the proposal of the F1 Commission regarding regulations for power unit and gearbox changes. Such penalties prior to qualifying will be applied based on the time of use. For changes made after qualifying, preference will be given to the driver whose team first informed the technical delegate that a change will occur.

F1's turbo engines have been criticised for their lack of noise

- Any driver who causes a start to be aborted, even if he is then able to start the extra formation lap, will be required to start the race from the pit lane. The same process will be applied to a re-start from a race suspension where drivers have been brought to the pit lane.

- The WMSC confirmed a number of clarifications were made to aerodynamic testing restrictions for wind tunnel use and CFD, specifically focusing on reporting and inspection processes for these development tools.

- For 2017, on board cameras on stalks on the nose of cars will be prohibited.